Youth to the People burst onto the natural beauty scene in 2015 with a bold mission to create high-performance skincare powered by superfood ingredients and a strong social conscience. Since then, the Los Angeles-based brand has amassed a cult following among Millennial and Gen Z audiences.
But in a sea of Insta-popular beauty brands making ambitious claims, how does Youth to the People actually measure up? As a discerning beauty aficionado skeptical of hype, I decided to put their much-raved-about formulations under the microscope.
Taking a Hard Look at Youth to the People‘s Background and Ethos
Before assessing individual products, it‘s worthwhile scrutinizing the brand‘s overarching principles and business practices. This provides essential context for evaluating how authentically they live up to lofty aspirations.
The Promising Founding Mission
The brand was started by cousins Greg Gonzalez and Joe Cloyes, both grandsons of beauty industry veterans. They set out to create skincare that was not only high-performing, but also reflective of their progressive California values.
The name itself – Youth to the People – pays homage to grassroots revolutionary movements aimed at empowering the marginalized and vulnerable. This framing as beauty products for the people rather than the elite permeates the brand‘s marketing and formulations.
Similarly, Youth to the People proudly flaunts its sustainability, ethical sourcing commitments, and support for charities aiding disadvantaged groups. An impressively comprehensive list of partners and accreditations corroborates these assertions.
On paper, the brand ideology is extremely appealing. However, concrete action must match admirable intentions.
High Price Points Undercut Accessibility Claims
Youth to the People positions itself as skincare democratizing clean, green beauty for the masses rather than an exclusive luxury category for the 1%.
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Yet their products retail at Sephora for $12 to $68, outpacing drugstore skincare prices.
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Flagship items like their $58 Adaptogen Cream and $62 Superfood Serum cost significantly more than competitoritems with similar formulations from The Ordinary, Inkey List, and other affordable indie startups.
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Such pricing ultimately restricts their target Gen Z and Millennial audience struggling with student loans and income inequality.
While the brand does offer Afterpay installments and the occasional sale or bundle deal, consistently high sticker prices undermine declarations as "skincare for the people."
Transparent About Ingredients, Not So Much Business Operations
I will certainly commend Youth to the People for their extremely transparent ingredient glossaries clearly explaining every component along with it‘s skincare benefit. They also voluntarily comply with EU regulations banning over 1,300 questionable chemicals.
Conversely, details on their supply chain, manufacturing processes, and charitable initiatives are much more opaque. An About page broadly touches on some partners and accreditations, but concrete metrics on environmental impact or funds raised are not publicly reported.
This makes it impossible for consumers to accurately evaluate how much greenspace their glass packaging actually saves yearly, how much money they‘ve donated to women‘s charities so far, or how ethical their kale sourcing truly is.
Ultimately, Youth to the People talks a big game when it comes to social and environmental consciousness, but lacks accountability in backing it up.
Analyzing the Star Products Behind the Hype
With deeper insight into Youth to the People‘s branding and business practices, we can weigh specific bestselling products against claims. Do results justify the premium price point compared to more affordable clean skincare competitors?
Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
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The Claims: This $48 lightweight daily moisturizer promises smoother, softer, deeply nourished skin through antioxidant-rich greens like kale, spinach, green tea and hyaluronic acid. It can apparently double as a makeup primer.
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The Reality: With a near perfect 4.7 star average across over 500 Sephora reviews, this nourishing cream receives rave reviews for living up to promises. The bouncy whipped texture absorbs quickly without greasiness or breakouts. Even acne-prone complexions enjoy refreshed hydration.
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However, the airy texture means reapplication is needed to sustain moisture, especially in dry climates. At $48 for just 2 oz, frequent re-application also makes it a pricier option than thicker creams.
Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
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The Claims: This $58 rich moisturizer leverages adaptogens like ashwagandha and holy basil alongside nourishing oils to deeply hydrate, smooth, brighten and firm. The brand promises it can visibly minimize fine lines and inflammation.
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The Reality: With a 4.2 rating at Sephora across 350 reviews, most customers agree this indulgent cream leaves skin supple and dewy. Many note a visible difference in lines after sustained use. It earns praise as a rich night cream for dry, mature skin.
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However, some note less dramatic firming and brightening results compared to the hydration. A few also comment that the earthy adaptogens make for a strong herbal scent unsuited for sensitive noses. At nearly $60 for one cream, it remains a significant investment.
Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask
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The Claims: This $48 leave-on overnight mask promises to deliver smoother, firmer, glowier skin by morning through a hardworking blend of vitamin C-rich superberries and hydrating squalane and glycerin.
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The Reality: With nearly 95% of 370 Sephora reviewers awarding 4 or 5 stars, this mask earns effusive fanfare for waking up tired, dull skin. Multiple fans with cystic acne and sensitive skin stay it gives them an enviable glow without irritation. For brightening and hydrating overnight, it delivers on promises.
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However, some note less dramatic firming results, instead primarily noticing refreshed radiance. A few also dislike the strong fruity fragrance. And at $48 for just 2 oz, it remains one of the pricier overnight masks out there.
How Youth to the People Compares to Top Competitors
To decide if Youth to the People‘s premium prices reflect Goldilocks "just right" value, I compared them to key competitors in terms of quality, ethical standards, and pricing.
The Ordinary
- Much more affordable, with serums and creams ranging from $5 – $17
- Streamlined formulas without much scent or texture refinement
- Very transparent about ingredient sources, manufacturing, and testing
- Clinical, no-fuss packaging and branding
Farmacy
- Slightly more affordable than Youth to the People, with prices from $12 – $56
- High quality ingredient blends, textures and scents
- Farm-to-beauty supply chain supports independent farmers
- Fun, feminine branding targeting the same Millennial audience
Drunk Elephant
- Similarly prestige pricing from $20 – $90
- Clinically effective formulas backed by skin science
- Strict internal ingredient safety testing and restrictions
- Sleek, minimalist branding and packaging
Compared to these three category leaders, Youth to the People generally charges more for comparable formulation quality. Clinical indie brands like The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant leverage more precise skin science at similar price points.
Meanwhile, Farmacy pulls off similar textures, scents, and botanical ingredients with slightly more affordable pricing. They also manage to transparently walk the walk on ethical supply chains.
Considering the unclear business practices and very high sticker price for natural formulations, Youth to the People skews overpriced for the actual product experience. While products like the Superberry Mask and Adaptogen Cream merit their fanfare, cheaper clean competitors probably offer similar results.
For shoppers prioritizing value, The Ordinary and Farmacy provide similar nourishing, botanical formulas you can feel good about for less.
The Final Verdict: Do Results Justify the Hype?
After comparing Youth to the People‘s brand ethos, price point and products under a fine-toothed comb, does this trendy skincare darling still impress a selective beauty junkie?
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The Good: Thoughtfully formulated, nutrient-dense products like the Superberry Mask and Adaptogen Cream deliver impressively smooth, supple and glowy skin. The texture refinements and luxurious scents also provide a sensory skincare ritual experience missing from clinical brands.
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The Bad: Extremely high price points compared to competitors offering similar ingredients make it questionable value for money. Lack of operational transparency also undermines ambitious sustainability and social giving claims.
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The Bottom Line: Customers prioritizing indulgent sensorial appeal and food-based extracts will delight in standouts like the Superfood Moisture Cream and Adaptogen Cream. However, those wanting clinically-proven anti-aging results or the best bang for their buck may prefer more affordable indie competitors.
While Youth to the People gets an A for effort on its founding ethos, it merits some tough love to truly practice what it preaches by improving supply chain transparency and accessibility for its namesake youth. But for those undeterred by the price tag, certain star products live up the hype.
Have you tried Youth to the People skincare? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
